Supervisor Edmund Jew

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Happy Lunar New Year 4705!

Chinese Lunar New Year is a time to honor and appreciate families, and generations of families. This year is not just the Year of the Boar, it is the Year of the Golden Boar, an event that will not occur again in our lifetimes. It signifies spiritual and financial enrichment, and general good fortune.

From my family to yours, Happy New Year 4705.

District 4 Open House
Scott Hauge and Cal Insurance will host our first district Open House on Thursday, March 15, from 1 - 4 p.m., at 2311 Taraval St.

Small business owners in particular are encouraged to drop by and talk to me about your problems and concerns, although any District 4 resident will be welcomed. Hauge has been a great friend in offering the use of his business for this event - we are hopeful that other businesses will open their doors for us in future months. Depending on turnout, I would like this to become at least a monthly event.

I think the best way to keep in touch with constituents is through my physical presence in the district as often as I can manage.

Pedestrian Safety
I am pleased to report that crosswalk countdown signals have been installed on Sunset Boulevard, at Judah, Noriega and Taraval streets.

Several locations for stop signs have been identified and are in the works.

In response to the many calls I've received from homeowners complaining about overnight campers trashing their neighborhoods, "Habitation in Vehicles Prohibited" signs are going up on Lincoln Way, La Playa, 36th and 37th avenues, and on a section of the Lower Great Highway. With these signs in place, the SF Police Department will be able to enforce laws prohibiting sleeping in vehicles between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Merchant Matters
On the evening of Feb. 21, it was my honor to swear in the new officers of the Outer Sunset Merchants Association.

Awadalla Awadalla, owner of Irving Pizza, is the new president. Ha's Restaurant hosted the event, attended by Capt. Keith Sanford from the Taraval Station, and almost 100 merchants and neighborhood residents.

I am scheduled to install the new officers of the Taraval Merchants meeting on March 3.

I have been working closely with Pat McGuire and Judah merchants to get our streets cleaned of litter and graffiti.

Merchant associations are the backbone of our district and there is strength in numbers. If you own a small business and don't already belong to your local merchant association, I urge you to join. If you're not sure which group to call, please contact my office for information: 554-7460.

Park Updates
South Sunset Playground will be undergoing a transformation this summer, thanks to the City Fields Foundation. In partnership with the City, City Fields will be replacing the playing fields with a new artificial turf product that is remarkably life-like, yet needs minimum maintenance and can withstand long hours of use. Lights will be installed around the fields to enable night games to be played, as well as to enhance security.

The SF Recreation and Park Commission will hear of this renovation plan in March. If all goes well, work will be completed by the end of the year. District 4 is indeed lucky to receive the attention of City Fields - waiting for the city to accomplish such work requires far more patience than most of us have to offer.

A non-profit foundation has been formed to renovate the Sunset Community Center, and fundraising has begun. It is generally accepted that the City will be unable to do much of anything without another general obligation bond issuance, which is not guaranteed to pass.

The Community Center's playground recently received an "F" grade, so residents who care about the center and the children who use it are organizing community support to look for alternative funding sources. Contact my office for referrals.

Ed Jew is a San Francisco Supervisor representing District 4.